England recall Broad, Bairstow for final Test vs Sri Lanka

Colombo, Nov 21: Having already clinched the three-Test rubber with comprehensive victories in the opening two games, England recalled pacer Stuart Broad and stumper Jonny Bairstow for the final match against Sri Lanka, starting here on Friday.

Broad will come in for pace spearhead James Anderson, while Bairstow will replace the injured Sam Curran and bat at number three. 

The 29-year-old Bairstow will become the fourth batsman to take on the role at first-drop in this series after Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes and Keaton Jennings, due to Jack Leach opening the batting as a nightwatchman in the second innings of the final Test.

England had earlier won the first Test at Galle by 211 runs before prevailing in the second game by 57 runs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead.